Designed to meet an American need for a very heavy, long range bomber, the B-29 Superfortress was first flown on September 21st, 1942. The USAAF's intent in building the B-29 was to have an aircraft that was capable of winning the war through sheer destructive poweróby destroying the enemy homeland. This mid-wing bomber had four 3,500 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engines. It required a crew of 10 specialists and gunners and had a sophisticated weapons system that included guns mounted in electrically powered turrets in the dorsal, ventral and tail positions. The guns were operated by internal periscope systems.